In what will be a big disappointment for all cycling enthusiasts in the city, cycling legend Lance Armstrong will not accompany his team Radioshack, which is participating in the Tour de Mumbai this week, as he is busy preparing "for a third career as a triathlete".
"No, unfortunately not. He has a very busy schedule with his Livestrong organisation and he is preparing now for a third career as triathlete," Radioshack's team manager, Alain Gallopin, said in an email interview.
Last month's 'Tour Down Under' was reportedly the last overseas race of Armstrong, a record seven-time Tour de France winner.
Armstrong, who won seven titles consecutively from 1999 to 2005 after surviving testicular cancer, founded the organisation called Livestrong, an NGO which works for the cancer affected people.
USA's Radioshack and Italy's top team Liquigas, two of the top professional cycling teams, will take part in a two-stage international Class I cycling race to be held later in the week in Nashik and Mumbai.
Three-time holder of the green jersey sprinters' classification at Tour de France Robbie McEwen, New Zealander Sam Bewley, a bronze medal winner in Beijing Olympics, five-time South African cyclist of the year Robbie Hunter, double European champion Michal Kwiatkowski from Poland, Japanese Fumiyuki Beppu and American Bjorn Selander will represent the USA team in the event.
The Italian team will be represented by Elia Vivani, who finished his first pro-season by winning the Memorial Marco Pantani and the Memorial Frank Vandenbroucke. Others to represent the team include Italian Tiziano Dall'Antonia, multiple time member of USA World Championship team Timothy Duggan, American Edward King, and Alan Marangoni.
The two legs of the international race, offering USD 50,000 to the winner, will be held in Nashik on February 11 and here on February 13.